Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Fort Norman (Nov 25/02) - Chief Alberta Wright school in Tulita is sinking.

One hundred of the 140 pilings supporting the building are collapsing, causing the building to buckle and shift.

Sister Celeste Goulet of the Tulita Education District said the problems at the facility are not new.

"We've known about it for about a year. We've noticed cracks and the walls shifting," she said.

"The pilings are made of wood. It's built on a muskeg area and the pilings over the years have rotted."

The hazardous situation forced the education district to close the school and send students home on Nov. 7. Students were tentatively scheduled to return to classes today.

Meanwhile students are being home schooled and parents have the option of continuing home schooling or allowing their children to attend classes once the building reopens.

"Many parents are afraid for their children," said Goulet.

An engineering report stated the defective pilings are causing interior doors to jam, sometimes so badly students are unable to open them. The outside walls are also beginning to collapse.

Aside from structural problems, the fire prevention system in the building is inadequate, there is no public address system, the air handling system must be replaced, as do a number of mechanical and services systems.

Despite the report, Steve Rose, supervisor of schools with the Sahtu Divisional Education Council, said the building has not been condemned. Repairs have been made on the foundation.

The engineering report also suggested the $2 million repair costs would be near the cost of building a new school, which may be the best option.

Goulet said the GNWT is to address the problem during the next session of the legislature in February.

"It's the children that are missing out," she said. "The kids are going to lose almost half their year. That's why I am glad they are home schooling, but home schooling isn't the same as being in school."

Sheamus Quigg, superintendent of schools, said no matter what is decided, it is likely short-term repairs on the existing building will go ahead.

"To build a new school will probably take a couple of years. There still needs to be a school program offered," said Quigg.